Group isolation in wireless networks

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems here may be used for managing a wireless network including associating a first and second wireless access device to an access point (AP), assigning the first and second wireless access device to respective first and second isolation groups, providing local communication via the AP within the isolation group, and prohibiting local communication via the AP between the first and second isolation groups.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Provisionalapplications 62/016,532 filed 24 Jun. 2014 and 62/097,815 filed 30 Dec.2014, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of wireless networking andcommunications among clients within a network.

BACKGROUND

Current wireless networks cannot isolate groups of client devicesefficiently with regards to permissions within a wireless network.

SUMMARY

Disclosed here are exemplary systems and methods for managing a wirelessnetwork. Certain example embodiments include methods and systems formanaging a wireless network. Certain examples include using a controllerin communication with a network and an access point (AP), receiving,from the AP, an indication that a wireless access device is requestingto associate to the AP; upon receiving the indication, associating thewireless access device to the AP; assigning the wireless access deviceto an isolation group, routing local communication through the AP, amongany wireless access devices which are assigned to the same isolationgroup, and routing communication through the network, among any wirelessaccess devices which are not assigned to the same isolation group.

Certain example embodiments include, additionally or alternatively,methods and systems for managing a wireless network, including via atleast one access point (AP) in communication with a network and twowireless access devices, aggregating the two wireless devices into anisolation group, assigning a specific permission set to the isolationgroup; wherein the at least one AP uses a single service setidentification (SSID) and single virtual local area network (VLAN), andallowing communication between the two wireless devices via the at leastone AP.

Certain example embodiments include, additionally or alternatively,methods and systems for managing a wireless network, including via acontroller in communication with a network and at least one access point(AP), the AP in communication with at least two wireless access devices,aggregating the at least two wireless devices into an isolation group,assigning a specific permission set to the isolation group; wherein thewireless network uses a single service set identification (SSID) andsingle virtual local area network (VLAN).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carriedout in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way ofnon-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a network diagram describing one example system used toimplement certain embodiments described here.

FIG. 2 is a network diagram describing one example system used toimplement certain embodiments described here.

FIG. 3 is a network diagram describing one example system used toimplement certain embodiments described here.

FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting one example of group isolation used toimplement certain embodiments described here.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting an example decision tree for groupisolation used to implement certain embodiments described here.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea sufficient understanding of the subject matter presented herein. Butit will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the subjectmatter may be practiced without these specific details. Moreover, theparticular embodiments described herein are provided by way of exampleand should not be used to limit the scope of the invention to theseparticular embodiments. In other instances, well-known data structures,timing protocols, software operations, procedures, and components havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the embodiments of the invention.

Overview

In certain example wireless networks, various forms of permissions maybe used to allow different devices access to different network features.Such permissions may also be tied to billing, accounting, networkaccess, or any number of other capabilities. In certain situations,network administrators may find it useful to isolate different clientsin order to prevent one client from accessing other clients directlywhich may be in communication with the same wireless network. Suchisolation may be useful in customizing features for individual devices,as well as customizing permissions for individual devices.

Wireless networks may utilize any number of radios to communicate withany number of client devices. Radios such as WiFi access points (APs),cellular (such as 3G and/or LTE), small cell radios, femtocell radios,and other radios may allow client devices to connect to other clientdevices as well as to a network such as the internet. As any and all ofthese radios could be utilized in the descriptions here, the term APshould not be considered limiting, but merely exemplary.

Client devices that are capable of wirelessly communicating on suchnetworks could be any number of things including but not limited to cellphones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, phablets, wearable smart devices,automobiles, or any other device capable of wireless communications.Thus, in this disclosure the term client device or wireless accessdevice should not be considered limiting but should be considered as anykind of wireless device capable of wireless communications.

FIG. 1 shows an example network, consistent with some inventive aspectsdisclosed here, arranged with various wireless access devices, or clientdevices 110 in communication with a single AP 130. FIG. 1 shows a rangering 120 as merely illustrative of the possible range of the AP 130, andthe client devices 110 which are shown in range and possiblecommunication with the AP 130, after the client devices have associatedto the AP 130.

In this example, the AP 130 is either hard wired into a network 140 oris in communication with the network 140 via a wireless communicationsroute (not shown). Then, the back end of the network includes any numberof things, shown for example here by servers 150 including but notlimited to authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) servers,lightweight directory access protocol server LDAP servers, radiusservers, active directory servers, open directory, or other functionalassets such as controllers, gateways, etc.

It should be noted that these servers could be anywhere as long as theyare reachable by the AP 30. They could be on the local network, in adata center, in the cloud, or otherwise reachable by a network. Theseservers may not be even owned by the same entity, just that they areable to be connected and communicated with.

Anything that can communicate over the network 140 could be included insuch a system. The example of a back end system could be the back end ofa wireless telecommunications company such as Verizon, AT&T, O2 or anynumber of other companies. It could be a more localized back end systemas well.

Additionally, in the example of FIG. 1, any number of data stores suchas databases 152 could be in communication with the servers 150. Thedata storage 152 is shown in communication with the exemplary server 150as an example, and could be located anywhere and accessed directly orvia the network 140 for example, distributed and even in a networked orcloud storage arrangement. In certain embodiments, the internet is thenetwork 140 depicted.

Continuing with the example of FIG. 1, the wireless network is able toprovide data and telephonic access to any number of client devices 110between and among each other and a network 140. In certain embodiments,different permissions for such client devices 110 may be defined andkept for reference in a centrally housed server such as a AAA server150. In such an example arrangement, when a client device 110 associatesto an AP 130, the AP 130 could then communicate with the AAA server 150and the database 152 in order to apply the appropriate network/deviceaccess, billing and/or other service feature to that specific device.

It should be noted that the example in FIG. 1 showing a single AP is notmeant to be limiting but merely illustrative. A network with any numberof APs may be used instead of a single AP, which is illustrated forsimplicity of the figure and exemplary purposes only.

In the example of FIG. 1, the client devices 110 may or may not beisolated into separate permission groups. Dashed lines 122 are shown aspossible isolation groups among client devices, as discussed in moredetail below.

Isolated Clients

Alternatively or additionally, FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment ofmultiple wireless access devices, or client devices in communicationwith the AP 230. In this example, the client devices are broken up andisolated by the system by applying different permissions to each clientdevice. In this way, the system is able to handle one client device 212different than a second client device 214 and even a third client device216 by recognizing them and applying different access permissions,billing metrics, etc. to each device. The number of isolated clientdevices could be any number, and in this example three are used, withthe intention that it is merely exemplary and not intended to belimiting.

Continuing with the example of FIG. 2, client devices 212, 214 and 216are all associated with the same AP 230, but isolated such thatcommunication from device 216 to device 214 will not be transmitteddirectly via the AP 230. Instead, to provide communication trafficbetween isolated devices on the same network, communication data will bere-routed via network 240. For instance, the device 216 transmits datafor device 214 to AP 230 at step 202. The AP 230 receives the data anddetermines that the clients 216 and 214 are isolated from each other andtherefore does not relay the data directly to the device 214. The AP 230may do nothing further, or may alternatively transmit the device 216data at step 204 to the network 240. The network 240 receives the dataand forwards the data back to the AP 230 at step 206. The AP 230receives the data from the network 240 and forwards the communicationtraffic to the device 214. Due to the client isolation within the AP230, the client devices 212, 214 and 216 are denied permission totransmit data to each other locally via only the AP 230. A proxy, suchas network 240, may serve as an intermediary to bypass the clientisolation such that the communication is not provided locally by the AP230. Isolation can provide privacy and security as isolated devices onthe same network may be prevented from even seeing which devices areconnected to the network. Other levels of permission may be providedbetween different client devices.

Group Isolation Examples

In certain example embodiments, alternatively or additionally, more thanone client device within a client isolation group, connected to a samenetwork, may be allowed by the system to communicate to devices withinthe same isolation group on the same network. Thus, such an isolatedgroup could still be isolated from other devices that are otherwiseconnected to the same network, but are not included in the designatedgroup. Such an example lies between a fully open network and acompletely isolated network: a network that allows groups of clientdevices to be open among each other, but isolated from others within thesame network. In certain examples this could be used in instances wheremore than one client device is owned and operated by a single person, orthere may be a group of people such as a family, company, or friends,who desire to be grouped together so their separate client devices aregiven permissions to access each other's devices and communicate amongthem directly.

Alternatively or additionally, in the example embodiment of FIG. 3, thesystem has been arranged to allow for more than one wireless accessdevice, or client device 316 to be grouped with other client devices318, 320 and then isolated from other client devices 312, 314 in thesame network of AP 330. The devices within the group of devices 316,318, 320 are permitted to communicate with each other locally via the AP330, while communication from these devices to other clients not withinthe client isolation group, such as devices 312 and 314, are denied bythe AP 330. For example, client device 318 transmits data for device 320within the same group to AP 330 at step 302. The AP 330 receives andanalyzes the data, determines that the client device 318 is within thesame client isolation group as the client device 320, and grantspermission to forward the data to the client device 320 at step 304. If,however, the data is intended for the device 312 or device 314, the AP330 would deny the client device 318 from locally forwarding the data bythe AP 330. In such an example embodiment, a client device 318 maycommunicate with a second client device 320 in a designated grouping 316through the AP 330 without the AP 330 having to communicate with theback end network 340 and server 350.

It should be noted that the examples stating that a single AP allows forlocal communication is not intended to be limiting. For example, if onecontroller manages multiple APs locally, then the local communicationmay be between and among locally operated APs all in communication withthe same controller. In such an example, the AP 330 in FIG. 3 may bemore than one AP, but still route communications without going backthrough the network 340.

More examples of group isolation may include where a family checks intoa hotel covered by a network within the grounds of the property. Onemember of the family may have both a smartphone and a tablet computerwhile the other members of the family each have their own respectivesmartphones. In the hotel, by grouping all of the family members' clientdevices into one isolation group, the system may allow them access toeach other's devices, grant permission to share billing amongst thegroup, grant permission to access particular network addresses amongstthe group, allow the members of the group to share data plans or billingrates, or any number of other permissions and accesses.

Certain aspects may include other elements. For example, communicationis allowed between the devices in one client isolation group butprohibited from other devices not in the same client isolation group.Group security may be used to protect the group from inadvertentlysharing data outside the group and preventing eavesdropping and snoopingattacks.

In such a way, one family member at the pool can video call anothermember in their hotel room locally via the same network, while beingisolated from local communication from other families, hotel guests,hotel employees, etc. The family members can share the data planassigned to their group, and receive a consolidated bill for the group'sdata usage. Some embodiments could be utilized in enterprise levels suchas offices or hospitals for certain groups of employees to shareinformation and permissions.

Thus, the example embodiment of FIG. 3 allows for a certain number ofclient devices to be grouped in this way, given permissions to interactdirectly via the AP 330, where the APs also do not have to check withany back end to do so. Other devices within the network that are outsideof the client isolation group are provided a different set ofpermissions than those devices within the group.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, a controller may beutilized as part of the network which identifies client device groupmembers. In such an embodiment, accessing information on the controlleris not considered accessing information to a AAA server and/or otherback end server(s). This is because a controller may be maintained andoperated by the local network administrator. A controller may also belocally connected, and function as the coordinator for local APs,separate and apart from any service provider or data provider company.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative or additional example of the grouping ofclient devices. In the example of FIG. 4, there are three groupsisolated from one another, group one 412, group two 414 and group three416. Inside each grouping, in keeping with the previous examples, arewireless access devices, or client devices such as client device 418 anddevice 420 in the group three 416 along with other devices 422, 424 and426. The other example groups 412 and 414 are shown in the example withjust one device each, but they too could contain any number of devicesand groupings as well. Likewise, the example embodiment shows threegroupings, whereas any number of groupings could be established in thenetwork. Each group is provided a different set of network permissionssuch that the groups are isolated from each other in some manner. Theexample of three groupings is exemplary and not intended to be limiting.In the example, the back end (not pictured), for example the AAA serverfor the service provider company that the client device users subscribeto, can utilize these groupings in order to bill, authenticate,authorize and assign permissions, among other things.

There may be many possible ways to localize the permissions and accessof client devices on a network. Some example ways to set up suchisolation groups may be to set up many or separate service setidentifiers (SSIDs). Another way may be to set up separate virtual localarea networks (VLANs). But another way to establish such groups may bethrough different network administration.

FIG. 5 shows an example flow chart of certain alternative or additionalembodiments described here. The flow chart depicts an example decisiontree from the perspective of a controller in communication with an APand a network, but could be from the perspective of an AP if the AP isso configured in an example network. In the flow chart example, thecontroller first receives an indication from the AP that a wirelessdevice wishes to associate to the AP 510. Next, the controller allowsthe wireless device to associate to the AP 520. The controller thenassigns the wireless device to an isolation group and stores thatinformation in a local or network based storage 530. Although notpictured, any number of wireless devices could be associated to an APand assigned to any number of isolation groups. As described below, anyof various pieces of data could be used to identify the wireless devicesto the various groups. Additionally, the way the controller assigns thewireless devices to the isolation groups could be through any of variousways described below.

When the controller receives a request for different wireless devices,which are associated with the AP to communicate 540 is checks the storedassignment data to see if the requesting wireless devices are in thesame isolation group 550. If the wireless devices are assigned to thesame isolation group 560, the controller allows the wireless devices tocommunicate locally, that is, through the AP directly, without having togo through the network 562. If, on the other hand, the requestingassociated wireless devices are not in the same isolation group, andtherefore in different groups 570, the controller routes theircommunications through the network 572 and does not allow localcommunication via the AP only.

Access Control List

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, APs and/orcontrollers may retain access control lists (ACLs) of client devices forgroup isolation purposes. In such example embodiments, the list maycontain lists of network layer information or Media Access Control (MAC)Layer 2 information. In such a way, the network may be arranged so thatonly one SSID is used, and isolation groups may still be configured.Further, in such a configuration, there is no need to arrange formultiple VLANs in establishing the isolation groups.

There may be various ways for the ACLs to be established and maintained.The individual wireless devices could request to be included in acertain isolation group upon association or at a later time.Additionally or alternatively, a system administrator could assignwireless devices to isolation groups depending on services that the userhas paid for. For example, the owner of a hotel which administers itsown APs, allows a family of users who check into the hotel to allcommunicate via the local APs because they paid to upgrade theirwireless package upon check-in.

Some example ways to set up such ACLs of isolation groups may be toutilize pre-shared keys with the devices in the same group, utilizingdynamic pre-shared keys with the devices in the same group, utilizinglists of MAC addresses identifying client devices in different groups,utilizing lists of usernames and password credentials in differentgroups so when they sign onto a system their input of the credentialsindicates their isolation group.

Such storage of list information may occur in any number of places. Forexample, in certain embodiments, the lists may be stored in the APsthemselves. In certain embodiments, the lists may be stored in acontroller. In certain embodiments, the lists may be stored in a remotestorage, accessible by an AP and/or controller. If the AP is able toaccess the list, or be informed by the controller or other AP, thepermissions may be locally stored and utilized.

Pre-Shared Key Examples

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, pre-shared keysmay be used to identify groups of client devices. In such examples, whena client device associates to the AP, the AP presents the client devicea captive portal. Through this portal the user through the client deviceis able to enter its already known pre-shared key for the network theywish to join. Then each device that wishes to join that particularnetwork with the pre-shared key may do so. The system then identifiesthat particular pre-shared key with a particular isolation group thateach client device with the key may be allowed to join.

Dynamic Pre-Shared Key Examples

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, dynamicpre-shared keys may be used to identify groups of client devices. Insuch examples, when a client device associates to the AP, the APpresents the client device a captive portal. Through this portal theuser through the client device is able to enter a dynamic pre-shared keyfor the network they wish to join. Then each device that wishes to jointhat particular network with the dynamic pre-shared key may do so. Thesystem then identifies that particular dynamic pre-shared key with aparticular isolation group that each client device with the key may beallowed to join.

Dynamic pre-shared keys may allow the system to create a uniqueencryption key for each user client device upon accessing the wirelessnetwork for the first time. Such an encryption key could be any numberof bytes, or N bytes such as but not limited to, 63-bytes. It alsoautomatically configures the client devices with the requisite wirelesssettings, for example but not limited to SSID and unique passphrase, allwithout any manual intervention by a system administrator, etc.

Lists of MAC Address Examples

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, lists of clientdevice MAC addresses may be used to identify groups of client devices.In such example embodiments, the system can store MAC addresses andassociate those MAC addresses with different groupings of clientdevices. Thus, when a client device associates to an AP that has accessto such information, the client device MAC address is communicated tothe AP. This MAC address can be compared to a list of MAC addresses thatindicate a particular isolation group that the client device belongs to.

Lists of Usernames and Password Credential Examples

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, lists of usernameand password credentials may be used to identify groups of clientdevices. In such example embodiments, the system can store username andpassword credentials and associate those credentials with differentgroupings of client devices. Thus, when a client device associates to anAP that has access to such information, the client device is presentedwith a login portal which asks for a username and password. Thesecredentials may be compared to a list of credentials that indicate aparticular isolation group that the client device belongs to.

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, the usage ofusername and password credentials adds flexibility to the system. Insuch a system, there is no need for the AP or controller to maintain alist of MAC addresses of client devices, which could be loaded beforethe client devices are able to utilize the system. Instead, in anembodiment using username and password credentials, groups may becreated at any time, say for example, when the example family checksinto the hotel. A single username and password combination may be issuedto the family for group isolation purposes. In some examples, theindividual uses their individual client devices with some otherpreviously assigned username and password credential but the system isable to associate that credential to a particular group.

Third Party Website Credentials

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, third partywebsite credentials may be used to identify groups of client devices. Insuch an example embodiment, a client device could log into a third partywebsite, and through that third party website, the credentials for agroup could be checked. In one example, a client device associates to anAP and is presented with a social networking site login page. When theuser, through the client device, logs into the social networking page,the system gains access to a friend list that the client profileincludes. In such a way, all of the friends of the user are included onthe user's isolation group when they are associated to APs in thewireless network.

Other third party website credentials may be used as well, for example,including but not limited to contacts, friends, more distant relationssuch as friends-of-friends, etc. Example social networks may includeFacebook, LinkedIn, Google+, etc. In such a way, existing socialnetworks could be leveraged in the isolation group setting to createisolation groups of client devices and their users.

Hardware to Identify Groups

In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, the hardware thatmaintains any exemplar lists or groupings for credentials to join aparticular group may be a controller. Such a device may be incommunication directly with APs or in communication with them via anetwork. In certain embodiments, the hardware that maintains anyexemplar lists or groupings for credentials to join a particular groupmay be the APs themselves. In such an example, the APs need not consultor communicate with a controller or server in order to allow a clientdevice with the appropriate credentials access to a particular group.Instead, all of the relevant information may be distributed to the APs,for example in a distributed hash table, and stored on the AP or APsthemselves, and are locally accessed when different client devicesassociate to the AP.

In either case, the network administrator may provide the credentiallists to the controller or APs or both in order to facilitate setting upthe groups of client devices.

Conclusion

As disclosed herein, features consistent with the present inventions maybe implemented via computer-hardware, software and/or firmware. Forexample, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be embodied invarious forms including, for example, a data processor, such as acomputer that also includes a database, digital electronic circuitry,firmware, software, computer networks, servers, or in combinations ofthem. Further, while some of the disclosed implementations describespecific hardware components, systems and methods consistent with theinnovations herein may be implemented with any combination of hardware,software and/or firmware. Moreover, the above-noted features and otheraspects and principles of the innovations herein may be implemented invarious environments. Such environments and related applications may bespecially constructed for performing the various routines, processesand/or operations according to the invention or they may include ageneral-purpose computer or computing platform selectively activated orreconfigured by code to provide the necessary functionality. Theprocesses disclosed herein are not inherently related to any particularcomputer, network, architecture, environment, or other apparatus, andmay be implemented by a suitable combination of hardware, software,and/or firmware. For example, various general-purpose machines may beused with programs written in accordance with teachings of theinvention, or it may be more convenient to construct a specializedapparatus or system to perform the required methods and techniques.

Aspects of the method and system described herein, such as the logic,may be implemented as functionality programmed into any of a variety ofcircuitry, including programmable logic devices (“PLDs”), such as fieldprogrammable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), programmable array logic (“PAL”)devices, electrically programmable logic and memory devices and standardcell-based devices, as well as application specific integrated circuits.Some other possibilities for implementing aspects include: memorydevices, microcontrollers with memory (such as 1PROM), embeddedmicroprocessors, firmware, software, etc. Furthermore, aspects may beembodied in microprocessors having software-based circuit emulation,discrete logic (sequential and combinatorial), custom devices, fuzzy(neural) logic, quantum devices, and hybrids of any of the above devicetypes. The underlying device technologies may be provided in a varietyof component types, e.g., metal-oxide semiconductor field-effecttransistor (“MOSFET”) technologies like complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor (“CMOS”), bipolar technologies like emitter-coupled logic(“ECL”), polymer technologies (e.g., silicon-conjugated polymer andmetal-conjugated polymer-metal structures), mixed analog and digital,and so on.

It should also be noted that the various logic and/or functionsdisclosed herein may be enabled using any number of combinations ofhardware, firmware, and/or as data and/or instructions embodied invarious machine-readable or computer-readable media, in terms of theirbehavioral, register transfer, logic component, and/or othercharacteristics. Computer-readable media in which such formatted dataand/or instructions may be embodied include, but are not limited to,non-volatile storage media in various forms (e.g., optical, magnetic orsemiconductor storage media) and carrier waves that may be used totransfer such formatted data and/or instructions through wireless,optical, or wired signaling media or any combination thereof. Examplesof transfers of such formatted data and/or instructions by carrier wavesinclude, but are not limited to, transfers (uploads, downloads, e-mail,etc.) over the Internet and/or other computer networks via one or moredata transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and so on).

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including,but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number alsoinclude the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, thewords “herein,” “hereunder,” “above,” “below,” and words of similarimport refer to this application as a whole and not to any particularportions of this application. When the word “or” is used in reference toa list of two or more items, that word covers all of the followinginterpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of theitems in the list and any combination of the items in the list.

Although certain presently preferred implementations of the inventionhave been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations andmodifications of the various implementations shown and described hereinmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limitedonly to the extent required by the applicable rules of law.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing a wireless network,comprising: via a controller in communication with a network and anaccess point (AP), receiving, from the AP, an indication that a wirelessaccess device is requesting to associate to the AP; upon receiving theindication, associating the wireless access device to the AP; assigningthe wireless access device to an isolation group; routing localcommunication through the AP locally, for any wireless access deviceswhich are assigned to the same isolation group; and routingcommunication through the AP and then the network, for any wirelessaccess devices which are not assigned to the same isolation group. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless access device is assigned tothe isolation group using an access control list.
 3. The method of claim2 wherein the access control list uses at least one of a single serviceset identification (SSID) and a single virtual local area network(VLAN).
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the access control list uses atleast one of a pre-shared key and a dynamic pre-shared key.
 5. Themethod of claim 2 wherein the access control list uses media accesscontrol (MAC) information of the wireless access devices.
 6. The methodof claim 5 wherein the access control list uses MAC addresses of thewireless access devices.
 7. The method of claim 2 wherein the accesscontrol list uses username and password credentials.
 8. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the access control list uses third-party websitecredentials.
 9. The method of claim 2 wherein the access control list iscreated at the controller and sent to the AP.
 10. The method of claim 1further comprising: assigning a different permission set of wirelessnetwork features of the AP to each isolation group.
 11. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereonfor a method for managing a wireless network, the method comprising: viaat least one access point (AP) in communication with a network and twowireless access devices, aggregating the two wireless devices into anisolation group; assigning a specific permission set to the isolationgroup; wherein the at least one AP uses a single service setidentification (SSID) and single virtual local area network (VLAN); andallowing direct, local communication between the two wireless devices inthe same isolation group via the at least one AP locally; and routingcommunication through the network, among any wireless devices which arenot assigned to the same isolation group.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the isolation group sharesa dynamic pre-shared key.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 11 wherein the isolation group is identified in anidentifier list stored in a lightweight directory access protocol server(LDAP).
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13wherein the isolation group identifier includes a group name andpassword.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11further comprising an isolation group identifier that is a list of mediaaccess control (MAC) addresses.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 11 further comprising an isolation group identifier thatis obtained via a third party website.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the third party website isa social network website.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 11 further comprising a controller in communication withthe at least one access point.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 11 further comprising an authentication, authorizationand accounting (AAA) server in communication with the network, whereinthe isolation group is defined at the AAA server.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising a radius server,in communication with the network, wherein the isolation group isdefined at the radius server.
 21. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 11 wherein the specific permission set determinesaccessibility to the network for the devices within the isolation group.22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein thespecific permission set determines billing features of the isolationgroup.
 23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11further comprising, via the at least one access point, aggregating athird and fourth wireless device in a second isolation group; assigninga different specific permission set to the second isolation group;allowing communication between the third and fourth wireless devices viathe at least one AP.
 24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 23 further comprising, routing through the network communicationbetween wireless devices in different isolation groups.
 25. A system formanaging a wireless network, comprising: a controller in communicationwith a network and at least one access point (AP), the AP incommunication with at least two wireless access devices, the controllerconfigured to, aggregate the at least two wireless devices into anisolation group; assign a specific permission set to the isolationgroup; route local communication locally through the AP, among wirelessaccess devices which are assigned to the same isolation group; and routecommunication through the network, among wireless access devices whichare not assigned to the same isolation group, wherein the wirelessnetwork uses a single service set identification (SSID) and singlevirtual local area network (VLAN).